Method and apparatus for handling cans of different diameters

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for handling empty, cylindrical cans of different diameters, the method including the steps of supplying corresponding cans from different sources; telescopically combining cans of larger diameter with cans of smaller diameter; storing the cans so combined in the space required for only the larger diameter cans; separating the combined cans; conducting the separated cans to separate fillers, and the apparatus includes a can combiner and a can separator, the combiner comprising a pair of straight tracks on which the cans of different diameters are rollable at high speed toward the convergent ends of the tracks past a rotary aligner that axially aligns each can of larger diameter with a can of smaller diameter as the tracks join to move them to fully telescoped relation, and the can separator comprises endless belts extending along divergent paths respectively engaging the cans at the convergent ends of the belts to carry the larger diameter cans along one path from said convergent ends and the smaller diameter cans along a different path, for movement of the cans to separate fillers.

United States Patent [72] Inventor John Campbell Kyabram, Victoria,Australia [21 I Appl. No. 883.067 [22] Filed Dec. 8. 1969 [45] PatentedAug. 3, 1971 [7 3 Assignee Filper Corporation San Ramon, Cali]. [32]Priority Dec. 13, 1968 [33] Australia l 1 47764 54] METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR HANDLING CANS OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS 24 Chins, 29 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 209/71, 209/74, 198/31. 198/32, 193/43 [51] lat. Cl B07c5/36 [50] Field 01 Search 209/71, 72, 73, 74; 193/43 D; 198/32, 35. 31 A[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.527.337 2/1925 Wilcox198/32 3.102.628 9/1963 Neer 198/31 A1 3,178,006 4/1965 Nigrellietal.3,469,673 9/1969 Gentry Primary Examiner-Allen N. KnowlesAttorney-Boyken, Mohler. Foster & Regan ABSTRACT: A method and apparatusfor handling empty, cylindrical cans of different diameters, the methodincluding the steps of supplying corresponding cans from differentsources; telescopically combining cans of larger diameter with cans ofsmaller diameter; storing the cans so combined in the space required foronly the larger diameter cans; separating the combined cans; conductingthe separated cans to separate fillers, and the apparatus includes a cancombiner and a can separator, the combiner comprising a pair of straighttracks on which the cans of different diameters are rollable at highspeed toward the convergent ends of the tracks past a rotary alignerthat axially aligns each can of larger diameter with a can of smallerdiameter as the tracks join to move them to fully telescoped relation,and the can separator comprises endless belts extending along divergentpaths respectively engaging the cans at the convergent ends of the beltsto carry the larger diameter cans along one path from said convergentends and the smaller diameter cans along a difi'erent path, for movementof the cans to separate fillersv METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CANSOF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS SUMMARY Heretofore it has been customary in thecanning industry to maintain, separately, in storage, supplies of emptycans. This practice is quite costly from the standpoint of storagespace, and as one of the ends of each can is open when in storage, dustand other impuritiesmay enter thestored cans before they are deliveredto the can supply lines for filling.

Empty cylindrical conventional :metal cans, that are to be filled, areeach closed at one end by a circular disc secured to one end of thecylindrical body of the can by crimping, resulting in an annularradially outwardly projecting head around said one end that may alsoform a slight flange projecting axially beyond the main portion of thedisc. The annularmarginal to the above-mentioned flared, annularmarginal portion of the cylindrical sidewalls,'hermetically sealing thecan closed. Injury to thesaid flared end portion, which is susceptibleto injury in handling, could result in a faulty sealing and spoilage ofthe contents.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of animproved method of handling empty cylindrical cans of differentdiameters from the making of such cans, to and through storage thereof,and to the can supporting lines for filling or other processing prior tofilling.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method oftelescopically combining empty cylindricalcans of different diameters,each having one end fully closed and the opposite end open, bothconserve storage space and to fully close the open ends of the smallerdiameter cans against ingress of dust and foreign material and tosubstantially close the open ends of the larger diameter cans againstingress of dust and foreign material during storage of the cans.

An added object of the invention is the provision of apparatus fortelescopically combining cylindrical cans of different diameters at avery high rate of speed without injury to the cans, and which apparatusis quite economical to make, operate and to maintain.

A further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus, in thesystem, for telescopically combining empty, cylindrical cans ofdifferent diameters, each open at one end, and which apparatus issimple, economical to make, and in which the cans are combined, inpairs, at a rate in excess of 600 to 700 per minute without injury tothe cans.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method ofseparating telescopically combined cans at a very high rate of speedwithout injury to the cans, and. which apparatus is relativelyeconomical .to make, operate and. to maintain.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of apparatusseparating telescopically combined cylindrical cans that may varyslightlyin their cylindrical cross-sectional contours.

An added object is the provision of apparatus for separatingtelescopically combin'ed cans at a high rate of speed substantially inexcess of 600 per minute, and which apparatus includes-safety means forstopping the apparatus in the event there is an indication of anincompleteseparation without jamming'the apparatus or injury to thecans, and which apparatus is constructed so that cans therein areclearlyvisible to an operator at all times and are readily accessible to suchoperator.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description anddrawings.

DESCRIPTION or DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of thesystem for handling empty, cylindrical cans of different sizes from'thesupply of cans to the filling thereof.

FIG. 2 is a side-elevational view of the system shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 is an elevational view of a pair of combined cans, with theinner can indicated in dotted lines and the outer can partly broken awayand in cross section.

FIG. 4 is an' enlarged, fragmentary, part elevational and part sectionalview of the lowermost ends of the cans shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the can combiner.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5, partly in cross section,showing the positions of the cans during movement through the combiner.

FIG. 7 is a side-elevational view of the combiner.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 7 takenalong line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 9, 10, 11, I2 and 13 are enlarged, cross-sectional views at lines9-9, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, and 13-13 in FIG. 7, each view showinga pairof cans in position at each line.

FIG. 14is a top plan view of the can separator.

FIG. 15 is a side-elevational view of the separator of FIG. 14 withcertain parts broken away to show structure.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view along line 16-16 of FIG. 14, showingthe cans during separation.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 17-17 ofFIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged end view of the separator at line 18-18 of FIG.16.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view at line 19-19of FIG. 16.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view at line 20-20 of FIG. 16. 7

FIG. 21 is a simplified schematic view of the photocell circuit adjacentthe outlet end of the separator.

FIG. 22 is a side-elevational view of a modified form of the inventiondisclosed in FIGS. l4, 15.

FIG. 23 is a top plan view of the separator of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view at line 24-24 of FIG. 23.

FIG. '25 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 25-25 ofFIG. 23.

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of another modification of the separatorshown in FIGS. 14 and 23 in which .a number of pairs of cans are shownat different positions along the length of the separator.

FIG. 27 is a side-elevational view of the separator shown in FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view at line 28-28 of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged cross-sectional view at line 29-29 of FIG. 27.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawings, movement of the cans is from rightto left.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 the numerals 1, 2 generally designate sources ofcans of different sizes. For example, one size may bethe conventional301 size, while the other size may be the 401 size, which figures arestandard, designating two popular sizes. Source 1, which may be a canmaker or other source, supplies the smaller diameter cans -3, whilesource 2 may be a can maker, or other source, for supplying the largerdiameter cans 4. These cans are formed of ferrous or magnetic sheetmaterial, which normally have an inner coating of lacquer, plastic ortin, for containing food products.

Ordinary empty cans of the above type come from the can makers with acircular head 5 (FIGS. 3, 4)closing one end of each can, the head andsides 6 being crimped together at said one end to form a radially andaxially projecting chime 7. The cylindrical sides 5 of each can areflared outwardly as at 8, for later crimping with a closurecorresponding to head 5, after the can is filled.

The head 5 of the cans are formed with concentric, spaced, shallow landsand grooves, one such groove is indicated at 9 in FIG. 4, in the lowerend of the larger can 4 of a combined pair of cans, and it is seen thatthe flared end 8 of a smaller diameter can 3 is substantially receivedin said groove when the pair of cans are vertical with the smaller caninverted within the larger can. This is the position in which combinedpairs of cans are normally transported to and from a storage station,and the inevitable jostling of the cans while in transit results in theinner can spacing itself within the outer can, and furthermore were thecans to roll on their sides, there is no detrimental cutting of thelacquer or plastic lining by the open edge of the smaller can. Were thecans combinedwith their closed ends adjacent to each other, the lacqueraround the flared end of the larger diameter can would, in manyinstances be abraded to the metal or cut through, rendering the damagedcan unsuitable for filling.

- In addition to the above desired result, the combining of the cans asshown in FIG. 3 results in substantially closing the open ends of bothcans, thereby precluding contamination of the inside of the cans duringtransit or when in storage.

, Between sources 1, 2 and the inlet end of the can combiner, which isgenerally designated 10, the cans 3, 4 move along separate paths l3, l4,and roll on their sides, by gravity, into the inlet end'of the cancombinenThis movement is at a relatively high rate of speed, and themovement through the can combiner, I is at a high rate of speed, beingalong straight lines that converge to a single path at the exit end ofthe combiner.

Within the combiner, a can aligner hereinafter described in detail,aligns a smaller diameter can with a larger diameter can, although up tothe aligner the cans in each path are normally in adjoining relationwith no attempt at alignment.

The cans 3, 4 in paths I3, 14, and in path 15, are supported and guidedfor movement within parallel sets of bars or rods that extendlongitudinally of said paths. These sets of bars are conventional in canhandling equipment, and for purpose of convenience may be called tracks.

The track 15 has 90 twist therein at 16 for turning the cans uprightwith the closed ends of cans 4 lowermost, and from track or path 15 thecans may be delivered to a conventional palletizer 17 for forming thesets of combined cans into layers of uniform size, and for stacking thelayers on a pallet for transfer to storage. I

From the palletizer the combined cans in superposed layers on palletsmay be moved by fork lift trucks l9 or any other suitable conveyor orconveyance to storage 20 where the combined cans are stored untilrequired.

When required, the combined cans are moved along the single path 21 byany suitable vehicle or conveyor 22 to a depalletizer 23 where they aredepalletized and moved upright in single file along a path 24 in a tracksimilar to track I5, having a 180 twist 25 therein for delivery of thesets of combined cans to the inlet end of a can separator 26, with theopen ends of the larger diameter cans directed downwardly.

The can separator separates the smaller diameter cans from the largerdiameter cans, (FIG. 2) and cans 3, 4 again move along separate paths ortracks 27, 28. The track 27 has a l80 twist 29 therein for inverting thesmaller diameter cans so both the larger and smaller diameter cans willhave their open ends facing downwardly to drop therefrom any loosesolids that may be therein and for sterilization of the insides of thecans upon passing through a conventional sterilizer 30.

From the sterilizer the cans continue along separate paths 3!, 32 havingI80 twists 33, 34 therein,'.to the separate fillers 35, 36 where thecans enter the fillers with their open ends directed upwardly.

l-Ieretofore, empty cans of different sizes from separate sources havebeen separately palletized. and separately transported to one or morestorage places where they have been separately stored, and thereafterthey have been transported separately to the fillers for filling.

From the foregoing description it is seen that by the present method ofhandling at least two difierent sized cans, the cost of valuable storagespace and the cost of labor and equipment in handling the cans isapproximately halved, and the cans when taken from storage are cleanerthan heretofore.

As will hereinafter appear, by maintaining the movement of the cans inone direction through the can combiner and separator along straightpaths, accurate control of the cans through these steps at rates of 600per minute and upward is maintained.

Each can combiner itself comprises a horizontally elongated frame,generally designated 40 (FIG. 5), having parallel, horizontally spacedupper side frame members 41 extending longitudinally of the frame and asimilar pair of horizontally extending parallel lower side frame members42 (FIG. 6) respectively spaced below members 41, and parallel withframe members 40.

Vertically extending frame members 43 (FIG. 7) adjacent to the receivingand discharge ends of the mainframe 40 of the combiner extend betweenand connect the ends of the upper and lower side frame members 41, 42 atone side of the combiner, while corresponding frame members 44 (FIG. 5)connect and extend between the ends of the frame members 41, 42 at theother side of the combiner. Horizontally extending upper cross framemembers 45 at the receiving and discharge ends of the combiner extendbetween and connect the ends of the upper frame members 41, while lowerhorizontally extending cross frame members 46 extend between and connectthe ends of the lower frame members 14 (FIG. 6).

Supported within the confines of frame 40 are a pair of separate tracksgenerally designated 47, 48 (FIG. 5) that support the cans 3, 4,respectively, for rolling on their sides, through the combiner from thereceiving end (right end in FIGS. 1, 2) to and out of the discharge end(left end). The frame and the tracks supported thereby are inclineddownwardly from the receiving end to the discharge end so that the cansroll rapidly through the combiner under the influence of gravity.

Track 47 is for the larger diameter cans. The tracks 47, 48 are inclineddownwardly from their receiving end, and the degree of such inclinationmay be accomplished by tilting the combiner frame, inasmuch as thetracks are rigidly supported on the latter, and any suitable support maybe provided for the frame.

Each of the tracks 47, 48 comprises a plurality of horizontally spacedrods extending longitudinally of the can combiner.

Track 47 includes a pair of lower horizontally spaced cansupporting rods49, 50 (FIGS. 7, 9) on which cans 3 are supported horizontally forrolling by gravity from the receiving end of the combiner past and belowthe can aligner, which is generally designated 51 (FIG. 7).

Track 48 includes a pair of lower horizontally spaced rods 52, 53 (FIG.9) on which cans 4 are supported horizontally for rolling, by gravity,from the receiving end below and past the can aligner to the dischargeend of the combiner.

Rods 49, 50 are parallel with each other, and rods 52, 53 are parallelwith each other, the pair of rods 49, 50 are horizontally spaced fromand in side-by-side relation to the pair of rods 52, 53, but with therods 49, 50 in a plane slightly higher than the plane in which rods 52,53 are positioned from the inlet or right-hand end of the combiner toslightly beyond the central portion of the aligner. The inclination ofthe rods relative to horizontal is the same as the inclination of frame40, and the spacing between the pair of rods of each set issubstantially less than the lengths of the cans supported thereon. Thusthe chimes 7 and the flared ends 8 are spaced outwardly of the rodssupporting the cans.

Spaced between the receiving end of the combiner and the aligner 51 areparallel upper and lower cross frame members 57. 58 (FIGS. 5, 7) thatare respectively secured at their ends to the upper side frame members4! and to lower side frame members 42.

Disposed between upper and lower cross frame members 45, 46 at thereceiving end of the combiner, is a rod-supporting frame generallydesignated 59 (FIGS. 7, 9) that is disposed perpendicular to thelongitudinal frame members 41, 42, and which frame 59 is horizontallyelongated in a direction transversely of the length of the combiner.Said rod-supporting frame 59 has generally vertically extending endvframe pieces 60, 61 (FIG. 9), respectively, adjacent to the main framemembers 43, 44.

Spaced between end frame pieces 60, 61 is a-generally verticallyextending intermediate frame piece 62 that is parallel with the framepieces 60, 61 (FIG. 9).

A base or lower horizontal frame piece 63 and an upper horizontal framepiece 64 extend between and are respectively rigidly connected at theirends with the lower and upper ends of the vertical frame pieces 60, 62,(FIG. 9), and a similar base or lower horizontal frame piece 65 and anupper horizontal frame piece 61 extend between and are rigidly connectedat their ends with the lower and upper ends of the vertical frame pieces61, 62.

The base and upper frame pieces 65, 66, respectively, are equally offsetbelow and above the levels of the base and upper frame pieces 63, 64,thus the rod-supporting frame 59 is virtually a pair of rigidlyconnected rectangular collars alongside each other having the verticalframe piece 62 common to both collars. The vertical spacing between thelower and upper frame pieces 63, 64 and the horizontal spacing betweenthe end frame piece 60 and the intermediate frame piece 62 are slightlyless than the spacing between frame pieces 65, 66 and 31, 32, inasmuchas the larger cans 4 will pass through the larger collar and the smallercans 3 will pass through the smaller one.

The lower frame piece 65 of the frame 59 is bolted directly to the lowercross frame member 46 of the main frame, and lower frame piece 63 offrame 59 is also bolted to said cross frame member 46 with spacers 67(FIG. 9) on the bolts disposed between the frame piece 63 and crossframe member 45. 1

The cansupporting rods 49, 50 at the receiving end of the combinerextend into frame 59 and are supported on and welded to the elevatedlower frame piece 63, while the cansupporting rods 52, 53 at saidreceiving end also extend into frame 59 and are supported on and weldedto the lower frame piece 65. The level at which rods 49, 50 and.52, 53are supported is such that the horizontally extending axes of cans 3, 4,supported for rolling on said rods, will be the same, the cans 3 beingon rods 49, 50 and the cans 4 being on rods 52, 53.

The rods 49, 52 are the outermost of the plurality of rods 49, 50, 52,53, being respectively adjacent to, but spaced from the vertical endframe pieces 43, 44 that are at the ends of frame 59, (FIG. 9).

Side rods 71, 72, 73, and 74 are parallel with rods 49, 50, 52, 53, andextend into frame 59. Said side rods are respectively welded at one oftheir ends to vertical end frame piece 71, intermediate frame piece 72,and vertical end frame piece 61, the rods 72, 73 being against saidintermediate frame piece 62 at opposite sides of the latter. All of therods 71'74 are at the same level, which is approximately the same levelas the axes of the cans 3, 4 when said cans are supported on rods 49,50, 52, 53, hence, rods 71, 72 define the opposite sides of track 47 forcans 3, while rods 73 74 defin'e'f 'oppos' track 48 for cans 4. e

Overhead rods 75, 76 are directly above can-supporting rods 49,50 andextend into frame 59 and are parallel with rods 49, 50. Said rods 75, 76are welded at their ends to the lower side of the upper frame piece 64of the rod-supporting frame 59, while similar overhead rods 77, 78 arerespectively directly above rods 52, 53 and are welded to the lower sideof upper frame piece 66 of frame 59.

All of the rods 49-7 7 extend from frame 59 toward aligner By the abovestructure, rods 75, 76 define the upper side of track 47, while rods 77,78 define the upper side of track 48.

The spacing between the lateral and upper sides of each track is suchthat cans 3, 4 freely roll downwardly on can-supporting rods 49, 50, and52,53, while the rods defining the lateral and upper sides of therespective tracks merely function as guides to retain in the-desiredpaths of travel to the aligner.

A rod-supporting frame 79, corresponding to the rod-supporting frame 59,is spaced between the latter, (FIGS. 5, 6) and the rods defining tracks47, 48 extend parallel from the frame 59 into frame 79 and are welded tothe frame pieces of frame 79 that correspond to those of frame 59.

At-the rod-supporting frame 79 the rods that define the four sides oftrack 47, and that are at one side of a vertical plane coincidental withthe dividing frame piece 62 of frame 59 continue parallel with eachother but commence to converge toward said plane (FIG. 5) and the sameis true of rods defining the four sides of track 48. At a pointintermediate aligner 51 and frame 79 relatively close to the aligner,and adjacent to the main cross frame members 57, 58, the rods 72, 73join to form a single rod 80. This rod 80 continues in the verticalplane that is coincidental with the frame piece 62 of frame 59 for apredetermined distance, as will later be explained.

A rod-supporting frame, generally designated 83, (FIGS. 4, 5, 10) isdisposed between the upper and lower cross frame members 57, 58 of themain frame. Frame 83 is similar to rodsupporting frames 59, 79 exceptthat there is no intermediate vertical frame piece such as shown at 62in frame 59, and the spacing between the vertical end pieces 84, 85(that correspond to end pieces 60, 61 of frame 59) are closer togetherthan the end pieces 60, 61 for welding of the converging rods 71, 74thereto and the other rods of tracks 47, 48, except 72, 73 extendthrough frame 83 and are welded to the frame pieces thereof thatsubstantially. correspond to the frame pieces of frames 59, 79. Thesingle rod extension 80 of rods 72, 73 also extends through frame 83,but is not secured thereto.

Said rod-supporting frame 83 is secured to and is supported between themain cross frame members 57,58 in the same manner as frame59 is securedto and supported between the cross frame members 45, 46 of the mainframe 40.

The rods of track 47 and those of track 48 extend convergentlycommencingat the rod-supporting frame 79, and cans 3, 4 will move along convergentpaths corresponding to the convergence of said tracks under theinfluence of the rods 71,

74 that will engage the ends of the cans adjacent thereto.

At the rod-supporting frame 83, the set of rods of track 47 at one sideof the central single rod 50 and the set of rods of track 48 at theopposite side of said single rod 80 will extend parallel with saidextension, and will define portions 47a, 48a (FIG. 5) of tracks 47, 48that are in extension of the convergent track portions extending betweenrod-supporting frames 79, 83, but are again straight and parallel withthe portions of said tracks at the receiving end of the combiner.

Along portions 47a, 48a of tracks 47, 48, the cans 3, 4 will have theiradjacent ends relatively close together.

Any suitable conventional means (not shown) such as rods that are inoutward extension of rods defining tracks 47, 48 at the receiving end ofthe combiner, may define paths to feed cans 3, 4 to the tracks 47, 48 atthe receiving end of the combiner with their open ends facing eachother. Accordingly, when the cans 3, 4 reach and move along parallelportions 47a, 48a, of tracks 47, 48, the open ends of cans 3 will beadjacent to the open ends of cans 4, although the cans 3 of track 47will not be in axial alignment with the cans of track 48. However, theaxes of the cans 3, 4 will be in a common plane from the receiving endof the combiner to beyond the central point of aligner.

The parallel, straight portions 47a, 48a, of tracks 47, 48 extend to acentral point below the aligner, but before the cans in said tracksreach said central point, the central rod 80 terminates so there will beno obstacle to the cans 3, 4 being moved axially toward each other afterthey pass the terminating end of rod 80.Also, it is to be noted that therods 71, 74

, engage the crimped ends of the cans 3, 4 and not the flared Shaft 84is rotatably supported at its ends in bearings 85 (FIG. mounted on theframe members 41. Secured on said shaft are two pairs of said discs orwheels, the discs or wheels ofone pair being designated 86, and thediscs of the other pair being designated 87 (FIG. 10).

The shaft 84 is spaced above the tracks 47, 48 at approxi mately theterminal lower ends of the parallel portions 47a, 48a of tracks 47, 48.Thus the straight portions 47a, 48a extend to a generally vertical planethat is perpendicular to the length of main frame 40 and in which planeshaft 84 is positioned.

Shaft 84 carries a sprocket wheel or pulley 88 that is drivablyconnected by a chain or belt with an electric motor 89, (FIG. 5), whichmotor is supported on a platform 90. Flatform 90 is rigidly secured onthe upper side frame members 41 of the main frame at the discharge endof the combiner, hence contributes to the rigidity of the main frame.

In order that the discs 86, 87 may be quickly adjusted, it is preferablethat each pair be adjustably mounted on shaft 84 as a unit. Accordingly,each pair of discs is releasably secured to a separate drive hub 91(FIG. 10) by any suitable means, such as bolts 92 that connect a flangeon each hub with discs of each pair, and which bolts extend throughspacers 93 between the discs of each pair for spacing said discs. Thehubs 91 may each be removably secured on shaft 84 by a setscrew 94, or akey, or any other suitable means.

Discs 86 are over portion 47a of track 47 and are identical, each beingscalloped around its outer periphery to form an annular row of concavelyarcuate, radially outwardly opening recesses or pockets 97. Each recess97 conforms in outline to the convex, circular outer outline of thecylindrical sides of cans 3.

Discs 87 are over portion 48a of track 48, and these are also scallopedaround their outer peripheries to form an annular row of concavelyarcuate, radially outwardly opening recesses or pockets 98, eachconforming in outline to the arcuate outline of each cylindrical can 4.

The discs as viewed in FIGS. 7, 8, are rotated clockwise, as

the movement of cans 3, 4 is from right to left. The formation of therecesses 97 in discs 86 provide teeth 99 between adjacent pairs of saidrecesses.

Each tooth 99 has a concavely arcuate leading face 100 (FIG. 8) that ispart of the recess 97 ahead of each tooth relative to its direction ofmovement. This leading face extends substantially radially of the disc.

The trailing face 101 of each tooth 99 extends gently rearwardly andradially inwardly from the radially outermost tip of each tooth alongline 76, which line extends more nearly circumferentially of the discthan radially until it reaches the recess 97 adjacent thereto, where itjoins said recess.

Discs 86, 87 are positioned relative to each other on shaft 84 so thatthe recesses 97, 98 in discs 86, 87 are in alignment axially of thediscs, and in this position the concavely, arcuately extending edges ofthe aligned recesses 97, 98 will follow circular concentric lines thatare coaxial with a pair of axially aligned cans 3, 4 on track portions470, 48a of tracks 47, 48, directly below the aligner.

Teeth I02 are between adjacent pairs of recesses 98 in discs 87.

The circular paths of the outer tips of teeth 99, 102, are approximately tangential to the straight paths of movement of the axes ofcans 3, 4 that are supported on rods 49, 50 and 52, 53 for movement pastthe aligner, said rods support the cans 3, 4 so their outer peripheralsurfaces are closely adjacent to the concavely arcuate surfaces of therecesses 97, 98. By this arrangement, the cans 3, 4 on tracks 47, 48,including the portions 47a, 48a, may move to the aligner under theinfluence of gravity in adjoining relation, and as the discs rotateclockwise at the same rate of speed, pairs of cans 3, 4 at the alignerwill be substantially axially aligned by the discs upon each pair ofcans reaching a position centrally below the discs. The cans may be fedto the aligner at the same rate of revolution of teeth 99, 102, orslower or faster. In any event, the rate of rotation of the aligner willdetermine the rate of movement of the cans through the aligner.

The overhead pairs of rods 75, 76, 77 and 78 that extend from thereceiving end of the combiner may terminate at the rod-supporting frame83 (FIG. 7), or just beyond said, frame, so as not to interfere withdiscs 86, 87, as said discs are substantially in line with said rods,and the gap between the discs and the tips of teeth 99, 102 isrelatively slight. Therefore, the aligner discs will engage the cansalmost as soon as they pass from below the rods 75-78.

Rods 49, 71 of track 47 at one side of a vertical plane extendinglongitudinally of the combiner between tracks 48, and the rods 52, 53,74 at the other side of said plane extend convergently toward each otherfrom points approximately centrally below the axis of rotation ofaligner 51 (FIG. 6), whereby portions 47a, 48a of tracks 47, 48 will beconvergent from said points toward the discharge end of the combiner andthe side rods 71, 74 will commence to move the aligned cans 3, 4 towardeach other. At the same time the axes of the cans will move towardpositions in which the axis of can 4 is at a right angle to theconvergently extending rod 74 and the axis of can 3 will move toward aposition in which it is at a right angle to the convergent rod 71, andthe cans will move toward each other. The rods 3, 49, 71 remain parallelwith each other, as viewed from above (FIG. 5), and rods 52, 53, 74, 46,will remain parallel with each other, but rod 50 continues straight.

The degree of convergence of the rods 71, 74 is such that the cans ofeach aligned pair, while under control of the aligner, will commencetelescopic movement of the cans 3, 4 relative to each other.

InFIG. 6, a pair of cans 3, 4 are shown in full line in axially alignedposition below the aligner, and an adjacent pair of cans in positions3', 4' is shown after having passed the central point of the aligner.

In movin to the osition 3', 4', the foremost ed e of the circular closedends of the cans 3, 4 engage the convergently extending rods 71', 74 andthe cans will automatically commence turning so their horizontal axeswill be perpendicular to rods 71, 74, respectively.

The flared end 8 of can 3 will have partially entered the adjacentflared end of a can 4, at the positions 3, 4', while the axes of thecans are at the same level supported on the convergently extending rods49, 52, 53 and on rod 50 of tracks 47, 48 (FIG. 7). Before the cans areentirely independent of the aligner 51, and when said cans reachpositions 3, 4', (FIG. 6) the foremost point on the leading circularedge of can 3 at its flared open end will be within the open end of can4 that is adjacent thereto.

When cans 3, 4 reach approximately the positions 3, 4', the rods 49, 50supporting cans 3 will commence to slope downwardly from points 103(FIG. 7) and will continue to so slope to points 104 when rods 49, 50will be at the same level as rods 52, 53.

Another rod-supporting frame 105, (FIGS. 7, 11), that is similar toframe 83, except for dimensions, is spaced beyond frame 83 and beyondaligner 51 in the direction of the movement of the cans. Frame 105 isdisposed between an upper main cross frame member 106 and a lower maincross frame member 107 (FIG. 7) that are respectively welded at theirends to the upper and lower longitudinally extending main side framemembers 41, 42. Frame member .105 is secured between cross frame members106, 107 in the same manner as frame 83 is secured between main crossframe members 57, 58.

Rods 49, 50, 52, 53 and rods 71, 74 extend through frame 105 and aresecured to the frame pieces of frame 105 that correspond to those offrame 83 to which said rods are secured. The rod 49 terminates apredetermined distance beyond frame 105 and by the time cans 3, 4 reachpositions 3", 4", (FIG. 6), which is a substantial distance beyond frame105, the can 3 will be well into can 4. v

A rod-supporting frame 108 (FIGS. 57, 12) of the same type as frame 105extends around rods 49, 52, 53, and 71, 74,

secured to the frame 108 in the same manner as they are secured to frame105.

A single overhead rod 107 (FIGS. 5, 7, 12) extends through and betweenthe rod-supporting frames 105, 108 and is secured adjacent its ends tothe upper horizontal frame pieces of said frames 105, 108, in a positionover cans 3 as the latter are moved into cans 4. This rod is inclinedslightly downwardly from the end thereof that is at the'rod-supportingframe 105, (FIG. 7), the spacing between the upper end of rod 107 andthe rods 49, 50, that support the cans being such that the spacingbetween the lower end of said rod 107 and the rods 49, 50 therebelowwill be at the same level as rods 49, 50 at the point 104.

A pair of overhead rods 109, 110 also extend through rodsupportingframes 105, 108, and are secured to the horizontal upper frame pieces ofsaid frames in the same manner as rods 77, 78 are secured to frame 59.Rods 109, l are over cans 4, and commence at frame 105 the same as rod107 but rods 109, 110 continue parallel with each other and with thecansupporting rods 52, 53 therebelow, there being no downwardinclination of the latter between the frames 105, 108. The rod 107terminates at a point between the discharge end of the combiner andframe 108 (FIG. 5) as soon as the major length of can 3 is within thecan 4 at the terminal end of rod 107.

A rectangular rod-supporting frame 111 is supported at the discharge endof the main frame 40 between the horizontal upper and lower cross framemembers 45, 46 of the main frame, (FIGS. 5, 7, 13), the horizontalbottom frame piece 112 of said frame 111 being supported directly on thelower main frame member 46 and the upper horizontal frame piece 113(FIG. 13) being secured by bolts 114, extending through spacers 115 tothe main upper cross frame member 45.

Can-supporting rods 52, 53 extend into and are welded to the horizontallower frame piece of frame 111 as are the ends of the bars 71, 74.

Rods corresponding to rods 49, 50, 52, 53, 71-78 at the receiving end,as hereinbefore stated, may extend to the sources 1, 2,.to providetracks 47, 48 with cans at a sufficient rate of speed to enable thecombiner to operate at its capacity. This rate may vary according to thedegree of inclination-of the combiner and the head of cans in the linesextending to the aligner and the rate of rotation of the aligner, but inactual practice, approximately 5 to 7 hundred cans'per minute may passthe aligner and be combined and discharged from the discharge end of thelatter according to the length of the tracks and where the inclinationof the combiner is approximately from l0 to relative to horizontal.

' This rate of rotation of the aligner is preferably regulated to alignthe successive cans on tracks 47, 48, at the maximum rate at which it ispractical to conduct the cans to the aligner, and the cans in the rowsextending to the aligner are normally in adjoining relation. The teethon the aligner discs are shaped to preclude injury to the cans of eithersize, irrespective of when they reach the aligner, and when the cans inthe two rows are in adjoining relation, at the combiner, a completecombining of a pair of cans will occur with passage of each set ofaligned recesses in the aligner discs past the leading pair of cans atthe aligner. Under no condition will a can pass the aligner discswithout entering one of the recesses in the discs.

At the discharge end of the combiner, a set of rods 116 (FIG. 7) are incontinuation of rods 52, 53, 71, 74, 109, 110, and support the combinedsets of cans 3, 4 for movement to a palletizer 17 (FIGS. 1, 2) and saidset of rods 116 may make a conventional quarter turn or twist at 16between the palletizer and the combiner to discharge the combined cansonto the palletizer in an upright position with the closed ends of thecans 4 lowermost. At the palletizer it'is customary to insert a sheet ofpaper or the like between superposed layers of cans as thelayers arestacked, which stabilizes the palletized cans of the stack.

The can separator 26 comprises a horizontally elongated, stationaryframe generally designated 119, having upper, horizontally spaced sideframe members 120 in parallel, sideby-side relation, and similar lowerframe members 121 spaced below and parallel with frame members 120.

Vertical frame members 122 (FIGS. 15, 16) connect the frame members 120,121 at each side offrame 119 and support the latter. Cross frame members123', 124 respectively, at the inlet'and discharge ends of theseparator, connect the opposite ends of the upper frame members 120. Thefeed, inlet orreceiving end of the separator is the right-hand end asviewed in FIGS. 14-16 and 19, while the opposite end is the dischargeend.

A can spacing and holdback device, generally designated 125 may beprovided at the inlet end of the separator. This device comprises a pairof horizontally elongated, horizontally extending endless V-belts 126 ina horizontalplane (FIGS. 14, 19) which belts are in side-by-siderelation.

Belts 126 are respectively supported at their ends on pulleys 127 (FIG.19) with the adjacent longitudinally extending runs 128 of the belts inparallel relation backed by sets of rollers 129, which runs 128frictionally engage the opposite sides of cans 4'that are fed betweensaid runs on rods 121. Said belts may be similar to timing belts, havingresilient rubber or rubberlike teeth 130 (FIG. 19) on their outer sidesfor yieldably engaging the sides of cans 4, and rollers 129 may beadjustably supported by frame members 131 that, in turn, are secured toframe 119.

Upper and lower cross frame members 132 also rigid with thestationaryframe 119, support the bearings for vertical shafts 134 that carrypulleys 127, (FIGS. 14, 19).

Adjacent to the discharge end of belts 126, or the left end as viewed inFIGS. 14-16 and 19, is the intake or right-hand end of a pair ofhorizontally elongated, horizontally spaced endless belts generallydesignated 138, 139 (FIGS. 14, 19). The adjacent runs 140 of these beltsare in side-by-side, spaced, opposed relation extending longitudinallyof the frame 119, and disposed in a horizontal plane for engagingopposite sides of the vertical cans 4 fed thereto from the V-belts 126.

The V-belts 126 are relatively narrow, and the sets of combined cans 3,4 are supported on rods as they are moved by said belts to the receivingends of belts 138, 139. The cans are normally fed to the 'V-belt byconventional power driven endless wire rope carriers (not shown)associated with a set of can-supporting rods and on which rope the cansare supported by gravity or both gravity and such carriers, whichever ismost suitable. In any event, the cans are fed to the belts 126 of theseparator on rods 135 below corresponding overhead rods. and betweenrods 136, in adjoining relation at a high rate of speed fromapproximately 600 to 700 per minute.

Belts 138, 139 are of a vertical width approximately equal to thevertical height of cans 4 between the chimes and flared lower ends, sothe chimes are above the upper edges of the belts and the flared lowerends of the cans are below the lower edges (FIG. 18).

Belts 138, 139, respectively, extend around pulleys 142 at the receivingends of the belts, as viewed in FIGS. 14, 19, and the opposite ends ofsaid belts extend around similar pulleys 143, said pulleys beingcentrally crowned to center the belts thereon. Vertical shafts 144support pulleys 142, which shafts are rotatably supported and carried attheir upper ends in bearings on horizontally inwardly projecting framemembers 145. Said frame members terminate at their adjacent ends at, orshort of the runs of said belts.

Vertical shafts 147 (FIG. 18) adjacent the discharge end of theseparator support pulleys 143. andsaid shafts are rotatably supported inupper frame members 148 (FIGS. l4, 18) that correspond to frame members145, while said shafts are supported below pulleys 143 at said dischargeend in bearings on lower frame members 149 (FIGS. 18) that substantiallycorrespond to frame members 148.

A bevel gear 150 (FIG. 18) is secured on each shaft 147 below the lowerframe members 149, which gears mesh with bevel gears 151 secured on ahorizontal shaft 152. 4

Shaft 152 is supported for rotation in bearings on the vertical framemembers 122 that are at the discharge end of the main frame 119, and asprocket wheel 153 is secured on one end of said shaft outwardly of oneof the members 122.

Sprocket wheel 153 is connected by a chain 154 (FIG. 15)

with a sprocket wheel 155 which wheel, in turn, is driven by a motor 156supported on a platform 157 (FIG. 15) that is rigid with the lower framemembers 121 and below the cancarrying belts.

Corresponding sprocket wheels 160 are secured on the upper ends of theshafts 144 on which pulleys 142 are secured (FIG. 14, 19) and largersized sprocket wheels 161 of uniform size, are respectively secured onthe upper ends of the shafts.

134 of the V-belt pulleys 127 that are nearest thereto, so that theadjacent runs 128 of the V-belts will move in the same direction as theadjacent runs 140 of belts 138, 139, and simultaneously therewith, whenmotor 156 is actuated.

The diameters of the sprocket wheels 160, 161 are such that, uponactuation of the motor 156, the surface speed of the opposed runs 128 ofthe V-belts will be slightly slower than the surface speed of theadjacent runs 140 of the belts 138, 139, whereby the adjoining cansbetween the V-belts will be spaced apart a small fraction of an inchbetween the belts 138, 139, for a purpose later explained in detail.

An upper and a lower row of longitudinally spaced leaf springs 163 arepositioned between the longitudinally extending runs of belt 138 and anupper and lower row of corresponding leaf springs 164 are positionedbetween the longitudinally extending runs of belt 139 (FIG. 14).

Springs 163, 164 are elongated and have outer ends that are secured tostationary strips 165 that are adjacent to the runs of belts 138, 139that are opposite to their adjacent runs 140. Said springs extendangularly from strips 165 in the direction of movement of the runs 140and their outer ends are curved at 166 to provide convexly curvedsurfaces in wiping or frictional engagement with the runs 340 foryielding urging the opposed runs 140 toward each other.

Mounting brackets 167 support the strips 165 from the the upper sideframe members 120 in positions in which the springs 163, 164 of theupper rows thereof engage the upper portions of the backs of runs 140 ofbelts 138, 139 while the springs 163, 164 of the lower rows engage theupper portions of said backs. This insures the belts 138, 139frictionally engaging opposite sides of cans adjacent their upper andlower sides even if some of the cans 4 may be distorted to be more orless oval in cross-sectional contour adjacent their open ends. The belts138, 139 preferably extend horizontally and carry cans 4 along ahorizontal path, and in view of the rate of speed at which the cans aremoved, it is important that the cans 4 should not pivot about horizontalaxes when between runs 140, but should be firmly held whether perfectlycylindrical or slightly misshapen in order to insure against undesirableslowing of the rate of downward movement of cans 3 out of cans 4, or thefailure of cans 3 to fully separate from cans 4 by the time the cansreach the discharge end of the machine.

The springs 163 are in staggered relation to springs 164 (FIG. 14) withthe result that, upon cans 4 being carried through the separator betweenruns 140, the cans will have a slight transverse movement as well aslongitudinal movement, relative to the length of the separator as a canpasses the curved ends of the alternate springs at opposite sides of thepath of travel of the cans. This is indicated to an exaggerated degreein FIG. 19, and the transverse movement has the effect of shaking thesets of cans to loosen the inner cans should they tend to be held withinthe outer cans.

A horizontally extending endless conveyor belt generally designated 169(FIG. 15) is positioned below the space between runs 140 of belts 138,139, which belt extends atone end over a horizontally disposedpulley'l70 that is axially in the same vertical plane as pulleys 142.The opposite end of belt 169 is axially in the same vertical plane aspulleys 143 and extends over a pulley 171 that is secured onpower-driven shaft 152.

Pulley 170 is secured on shaft 172, which shaft is supported at its endsin bearings on the vertical frame members 122 at the receiving end ofthe separator.

Pulley is positioned higher than the pulley 171 and said pulley 170supports the upper can-supporting run 173 at the receiving end of theseparator in a position in which the lateral edges of the upper run 173are adjacent the lower edges of the runs 140 of belts 138, 139 (FIG.20).

The pulley 171 supports the discharge end of the belt 169 in a positionin which the upper run 173 is spaced below the discharge ends of belts138, 139 a distance greater than the height of cans 3 (FIG. 16).

Conventional magnetic rails 177 (FIGS. 16, 17) below the upper run 173of belt 169 extend longitudinally thereof and are supported against thelower side of said upper run by members 178 (FIG. l5) rigid with frame119. A relatively thin war plate of nonmagnetic material may be rigidwith rails 177 and against the run 169 of the belt, the latter itselfbeing of nonmagnetic material. Permanent magnets 180 are rigid withrails 177 providing a magnetic field above said run.

A horizontal plate 181 (FIG. 19) bridges the gap between the upper endof the upper run of belt 169 and the rods 135 that support the cans thatare between the V-belts 126. The upper sides of the rods 135 are cutaway to support plate 181 with the upper surfaces of the rods and plateflush so that the cans will readily slide across the plate.

In operation, the sets of combined cans 3, 4 are fed on rods 135 tobetween the adjacent runs 128 of the V-belts at a high rate of speed inadjoining relation and immediately upon engagement between the cans 4and said adjacent runs the cans are moved by the runs 128 at the samerate of speed as that of the runs 128, which is slightly slower thanthat of belts 138, 139. The cans as discharged from the discharge end ofthe V- belts are immediately engaged between the adjacent runs 140 ofbelts 138, 139 and are slightly drawn away from the cans between theV-belts so as to slightly space the cans between said runs 140.

The cans 4 will be carried horizontally between the belts 138, 139toward the discharge end of the separator, while the cans 3 will becarried downwardly on the upper run 173 of belt 169 and will beprogressively moved out of the cans 4. The magnetic rails 177 positivelyhold cans 3 against said upper run 173 and the magnetic rails, gravityand the lateral movements of cans 4 imparted by springs 163, 164 allcooperate to assure separation of cans 3 from cans 4 before the cansreach the discharge end of the conveyor.

In the rare instance in which, through some defect or abnormality ineither or both of the cans of as set, the inner can should partiallyseparate from the outer can by the time the cans reach the dischargeend, the motor 156 is in an electrical circuit 182 (FIG. 21) with aphotocell 183 (FIGS. 16, 21). Upon closing switch 184 in circuit 182,holding relay 185 will be energized and the motor will be actuated, andcontinue to be actuated as long as there is no interruption in the beamto the photocell, which beam will be interrupted by a can 3 that failsto clear can 4 at the discharge end of the separator. Said interruptionwill immediately break the circuit to the holding relay and the motor156 and belts 138, 139, 126, and 169 will stop before a jam has occurredand cans and equipment are injured. The defective can or cans canreadily be reached manually for removal as the space above the cans 4 isfree from any overhead obstruction throughout the distance between theends of the belts 138, 139. The circuit shown in F 1G. 21 is highlysimplified for purpose of illustration.

While the tautness of the adjacent runs 140 of belts 138, 139 under theinfluence of the springs 163, 164 when no cans are between the runs 140,or when the number of cans between said runs may be irregularly spaceddue to variations in the feed of cans thereto will vary, when the runsare spread by the presence of the cans, there may be slack in the belts138, 139 if no provision were made to maintain the belts relatively tautunder all conditions.

Tautness of the belts under all conditions is maintained by a belttightener 186 associated with each belt, and as the slack in the beltsmay be substantial, it is desirable that the tightener be fairly compactand maintain the belts taut over a considerable range.

Each tightener 186 comprises a pair of vertical rollers 187 (FIG. 19)between which the longitudinal run 140' of each belt that is opposite torun 140 extends. The shafts rotatably supporting said rollers areconnected at their upper endsby a strip 188 (FIG. 19) and by a similarstrip 189 at their lower ends (FIGS. 19, 20). A vertical stub shaft 190(FIG. 19) is secured to strips 188, 189 centrally between the ends ofrollers 187, and the upper ends of shafts 190 are rotatably supported inbearings respectively secured to brackets 191(FIG. 17)

secured to upper side frame member 120. A torsion spring 192 around eachshaft 190 rotates rollers 197 in a direction to maintain the belts 138,139 taut at all times. counterclockwise movement of the upper belttightener as seenin FIG. 14 and clockwise movement of the lower belttightener will maintain the belts .taut.

ltis pertinent to note that one of the springs 164(FIG. 14) at the endof one of the rows thereof at the discharge end of the separator isopposite to the springs 164 at the same end of the other row. Thiscenters the cans 4 for accurate delivery into the track defined by theupper set of rods 193. A-lower similar track defined by a lower set ofrods 194 receives the cans 3 from the lower belt.

FIGS. 22-24 show a modification of the can separator hereinabovedescribed, which comprises a stationary frame 200 similar to frame 119,having upper side frame members 201 (FIG. 23) and lower side framemembers 202, with vertical supports 203 (FIG. 24) connecting the framemembers at each side of the frame and cross frame members 204 (FIG. 23)connect the ends of the upper side frame members.

A pair of endless, horizontally extending endless belts 205, 206 (FIG.23) in horizontally spaced, parallel, side-by-side relation extend atthe receiving end of the separator, a righthand end as viewed in FIGS.2325 around vertically disposed pulleys 207 and at their opposite endsaround corresponding pulleys 208. The opposed adjacent runs 209 of thebolts receive the cans 4 between them. Vertical shafts 210 supported inbearings carried by cross frame member 204 have pulleys 207 connectedtherewith and vertical shifts 211 have pulleys 208 thereon.

Shafts 211 are driven by the same arrangement as shafts 147 in FIG. 18.Driving shaft 212 (FIG. 22) which corresponds to shaft 152 (FIG. 18) hasa sprocket wheel 213 on one end thereof, which wheel is connected by achain 214 (FIG. 22)v with a sprocket wheel 215 that, in turn, is drivenby a motor 216 supported on a table 217. Table 217 is secured on theupper side frame members 201. The motor and table are not shown in FIGS.23, 24.

A pair of overhead crosspieces 220 (FIG. 23) secured to the side framemembers 201 extend across the separator adjacent to its receiving anddischarge ends, and depending brackets 221 support a rigid, horizontallyelongated backing strip 222 against the inner surface of run 209 of belt205.

Brackets 223 similar to brackets 221 support a rigid,

horizontally elongated strip 224 between the horizontal runs k of belt206 parallel with run 209 of the latter belt but spaced from said run asubstantial distance.

A row of relatively wide single leaf springs 225 are carried by strip224, which springs, in top plan view (FIG. 23) correspond to the shapeof springs 163 shown in FIG. 14, the springs having convexly curvedouter end surfaces slidably engaging the rear side of run 209 of belt206.

Sets of rods 226 at the receiving end of the separator deliver the setsof combined cans to between to adjacent runs 209 of belts 205, 206 inupright position with the open ends .of the cans 4 directed downwardly,and overhead rods 227 of said set continue longitudinally of theseparator from the receiving to the discharge end of the latter over thespace between the runs 209.

Cams 4, entering the receiving end, are frictionally held between theruns 209, under the tension applied by springs 225, the chimes of thecans extending over the upper edge of the runs 209 and below rods 227.

Below the space between runs 209 is an endless belt 228 (FIG. 24) thatextends over horizontal pulleys 229, 230at its ends, the pulley 230being on shaft 212 and pulley 229 being on horizontal shaft 231, whichshafts are supported at their ends in:bearings on vertical end posts203. I f

Magnetic rails 234 below the upper run 235 of belt 228 having anonmagnetic wear strip 236 (FIG. 25) between the rails and belt aresupported against the lower side of said run 235 bysupporting brackets237 (FIG. 24) that correspond to supporting brackets 178 of FIG. 5, andpermanent magnets 238 secured to rails 234 correspond to magnets 180.

In the modification of FIGS. 22-24, the cans 4 are retained at one sideagainst the unyielding run 209 of belts 205, 206

that is against the rigid backing strip 222, hence there is no variationin the straight line of travel of the cans 4'during separation.

Obviously the photoelectric safety control system employed in theinvention shown in FIGS. 15, 16 may be employed.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 26-29, the separation of: the cans ishorizontally instead of vertically. A pair of horizontally extendingendless belts 240, 241 extend divergently relative to each otherfrom thereceiving or right-hand end, and said belts extend around verticalpulleys 242 at said receiving end and around vertical pulleys 243 attheir divergent-ends. upperand lower cross-frame members 244 havebearings supporting the shafts 245 of pulleys 242, and similar uppercross-frame members 246 at the discharge end have bearings rotatablysupporting shafts 247 of pulleys 243.

A horizontal driven shaft 248 at the discharge end of the separator(FIG. 29) has bevel gears 249 therein that mesh with bevel gears 250secured on the lower ends of shafts 247 for driving the belts in adirection for movement of their adjacent runs 251 in a direction fromtheir adjacent to their divergent ends.

The sets of combined cans 3, 4 are rolled on their sides on tracks252-defining a single track to between the adjacent runs 251 of belts251.

Magnetic rails 253 (FIGS. 26, 28) that correspond in structure to themagnetic rails 234 of FIG. 25 are supported by frame members 254 againstthe oppositely outwardly facing sides of the adjacent runs 251 of belts240, 241. Wear strips of nonmagnetic material may be between the rails253 and the nonmagnetic belts, and permanent magnets 255 on the railsprovide the magnetic fields for holding the cans 3 to one ofthe runs 251while cans 4'are held to the other run 251.

Runs 251 move at the same rate of speed, and as the cans aremagnetically held thereto, with the cans 4 against one belt and cans 3against the other, the cams will be separated, and at the discharge endof the cans 3, 4 will leave the influence of the rails 253 and will beseparately delivered into the receiving tracks 256 for further deliveryas has been generally disclosed.

As cans 3, 4 are rolling in free space when attracted into engagementwith the runs 251 there is a tendency of the cans in each set to becomesubstantially coaxial. At least, the tendency is such as to produce aspace between the outer cylindrical surface of can 3 and the innercylindrical surface of can 4. The magnets are preferably disposed toassist in reaching such spacing,'the center of their magnetic fieldsbeing at substantially the level of the axes of the cans.

In short, the cans are rolling and live at the time they enter thereceiving end of the magnetic field, and they move toward the center ofthe field before their rolling inertia is dissipated. Thus the cans arespaced a sufficient distance to avoid scraping of the inner surface ofcan 4 by can 3 during the separation operation, thus avoiding injury tothe lining of can Iclaim:

I. The method of handling empty, cylindrical cans of two differentdiameters that are open at one of their ends and closed at theiropposite ends, between separate sources of supply and separate fillingstations, including the steps of:

a. moving the smaller diameter cans and the larger diameter cans ontheir sides along separate paths from said sources to an aligning andcombining station with said paths in adjacent sidegby-side relation andthe open ends of the larger diameter cans facing the smaller diametercans at said aligning and combining station,

each of the combined pairs of cans along single paths to said storagestation and from said storage station to said can-separating means, andfor supporting and conducting the cans of different diameters alongseparate paths from b. continuing said movement through said stationalong said can-separating means to said separate filling stationshorizontally extending, substantially straight paths and for filling.axially aligning pairs of cans during movement thereof 5. in the canhandling system as defined in claim 4; through said station at a pointat said station along said d. said can combining means and saidcan-separating means latter paths and at the same time progressivelymoving at each including portions of said conducting means for supleastone of the cans so aligned axially thereof toward the porting said cansfor continuous movement through and other until the smaller diameter canis within the larger past said can combining and said can-separatingmeans, diameter can to provide a combined pair of cans moving and in asingle path with the closed ends of the smaller diamee. said canconducting means including means between said ter cans extendingacrossasubstantial portion of the open 1 5 can combining means and saidstorage station for posiends of the larger diameter cans, and thereaftertioning said combined pairs of cans upright with the open c. moving saidcombined pairs of cans to a storage station ends of said larger diametercans directed upwardly and and during said movement to said storagestation, turning for supporting said combined pairs of cans in saidlastsaid combined pairs of cans upright to positions with the mentionedposition 'for movement to and for support at open ends of the lagerdiameters cans facing the same said storage station in saidlast-mentioned position, direction and collecting the upright cans ofsaid comf. said can conducting means further including means bined pairsin adjoining relation in horizontal layers of between said canseparating means and said fillers for predetermined uniform outline, andstoring said layers in positioning and supporting said cans uprightalong said superposed relation in a ack at i torag a ion, separate pathsto said fillers with their open ends directed d. withdrawing saidcombined pairs of cans from said stack upwardly for filling by saidfillers.

and thereafter moving them in a single row longitudinally 6. In acan-handling system as defined in claim 4; of said row along a singlepath to a can-separating station, d. said can combining means an saidcan separating means e. continuing movement of said cans through saidseparateach comprising substantially straight, horizontally eloningstation along separate straight horizontally extending gated tracks forsupporting said cans for movement paths extending divergently from saidsingle path with the therethrough at a high rate of speed, and largerdiameter cans in one path and said smaller diamee. said can combiningmeans including a rotary power ter cans in the other path until the cansof each combined driven aligner for axially aligning a pair of cans ofdifpair are separated, and thereafter moving the cans so ferentdiameters conducted thereto and for moving each separated along separatepaths to separate filling stations pair of cans so aligned past saidaligner at approximately for filling. 5 the same rate of speed as therate of delivery to said 2. In the method as defined in claim 1;aligner.

f. said smaller diameter and said larger diameter cans being 7. In acan-handling system for handling empty cylindrical in adjoining relationin said separate paths during movecans of two different diameters openat one of their ends and ment to said point in said aligning andcombining station, closed at their opposite ends, a can combinercomprising: and 40 a. a pair of horizontally elongated, relativelystraight, guide g. said movement at said station to said point thereinbeing tracks in side-by-side relation similarly inclined relative tounder the influence of gravity. horizontal for supporting the cans ofone diameter on one 3. in the method as defined in claim 2; of saidtracks and the cans of the other diameter on the h. said cans beingsupported on their sides at points spac d other of said tracks forrolling of said cans on their sides between their ends for rolling atsaid aligning an combinunder the influence of gravity and in adjoiningrelation on ing station to said point with the axes of the smaller aeach of said tracks from the elevated ends thereof toward largerdiameter cans being at th a l l, a their lower ends with the open endsof the cans in said i. during movement of the cans of said combinedpairs to ai of tracks facing each other.

said separating station. positioning the cans of sa d pairs b. rotarycan aligning means intermediate the ends of said vertically with theopen ends of said larger diameter cans tracks for engaging successivecan on said tracks and for facing downwardly whereby the cans of smallerdiameter axially aligning the cans so engaged during movement of will beunder the influence of gravity for separating from said cans therepast,the cans of larger diameter, and c. the tracks of said pair thereofincluding can-engaging and j. magnetically holding said cans of smallerdiameter against moving means for engaging the cans on said tracks uponlateral movement relative to the cans of larger diameter alignment bysaid aligning means and for axially moving during movement of said cansalong said divergent paths. at lea t one an of the pair aligned by saidaligning means a can handling System that includes P of sepal'ate intothe other to form a fully combined pair of cans dursources of empty,open-top cans of different diameters, a ing movement of the cans to thelower ends of said tracks. storage station for said cans, and a pair ofseparate filling sta- 6o 8. in a can combiner as defined in claim 7;tions for respectively filling the cans of each diameter: d. said canengaging and moving means being stationary a. can combining meansbetween said sources and said relative to said cans and engageable withthe cans at their storage station for positioning one of the cans ofSmall r closed ends upon movement of said cans on said tracks todiameter in each can of larger diameter to provide comsaid lower ends ofthe latter. bined pairs of empty cans for storing at said storing sta-9. In a can combiner as defined in claim 8; tion, e. said tracks eachincluding horizontally elongated canb. can-separating means between saidstorage station and supporting rods supporting said cans at pointsspaced said filling stations for separating the cans of said combetweenand from their opposite ends for said rolling on bined pairs formovement of the cans of one diameter to said tracks, and one fillingstation and the cans of the other diameter to f. said can-engaging meanscomprising a pair of horizontally the other filling station for fillingsaid cans, elongated rods extending longitudinally of said tracks and c.can-conducting means for respectively supporting and convergentlyrelative to each other from said aligner to conduction the cans ofsmaller diameter and the cans of the lower ends of said tracks andsupported at a level for larger diameter along separate paths from saidsources to 'so engaging the cans of their closed ends. said combiningmeans, and for supporting and conducting 10. In a can combiner asdefined in claim 6;

1. The method of handling empty, cylindrical cans of two differentdiameters that are open at one of their ends and closed at theiropposite ends, between separate sources of supply and separate fillingstations, incLuding the steps of: a. moving the smaller diameter cansand the larger diameter cans on their sides along separate paths fromsaid sources to an aligning and combining station with said paths inadjacent side-by-side relation and the open ends of the larger diametercans facing the smaller diameter cans at said aligning and combiningstation, b. continuing said movement through said station alonghorizontally extending, substantially straight paths and axiallyaligning pairs of cans during movement thereof through said station at apoint at said station along said latter paths and at the same timeprogressively moving at least one of the cans so aligned axially thereoftoward the other until the smaller diameter can is within the largerdiameter can to provide a combined pair of cans moving in a single pathwith the closed ends of the smaller diameter cans extending across asubstantial portion of the open ends of the larger diameter cans, andthereafter c. moving said combined pairs of cans to a storage stationand during said movement to said storage station, turning said combinedpairs of cans upright to positions with the open ends of the lagerdiameters cans facing the same direction and collecting the upright cansof said combined pairs in adjoining relation in horizontal layers ofpredetermined uniform outline, and storing said layers in superposedrelation in a stack at said storage station, d. withdrawing saidcombined pairs of cans from said stack and thereafter moving them in asingle row longitudinally of said row along a single path to acan-separating station, e. continuing movement of said cans through saidseparating station along separate straight horizontally extending pathsextending divergently from said single path with the larger diametercans in one path and said smaller diameter cans in the other path untilthe cans of each combined pair are separated, and thereafter moving thecans so separated along separate paths to separate filling stations forfilling.
 2. In the method as defined in claim 1; f. said smallerdiameter and said larger diameter cans being in adjoining relation insaid separate paths during movement to said point in said aligning andcombining station, and g. said movement at said station to said pointtherein being under the influence of gravity.
 3. In the method asdefined in claim 2; h. said cans being supported on their sides atpoints spaced between their ends for rolling at said aligning ancombining station to said point with the axes of the smaller and largerdiameter cans being at the same level, and i. during movement of thecans of said combined pairs to said separating station, positioning thecans of said pairs vertically with the open ends of said larger diametercans facing downwardly whereby the cans of smaller diameter will beunder the influence of gravity for separating from the cans of largerdiameter, and j. magnetically holding said cans of smaller diameteragainst lateral movement relative to the cans of larger diameter duringmovement of said cans along said divergent paths.
 4. In a can handlingsystem that includes a pair of separate sources of empty, open-top cansof different diameters, a storage station for said cans, and a pair ofseparate filling stations for respectively filling the cans of eachdiameter: a. can combining means between said sources and said storagestation for positioning one of the cans of smaller diameter in each canof larger diameter to provide combined pairs of empty cans for storingat said storing station, b. can-separating means between said storagestation and said filling stations for separating the cans of saidcombined pairs for movement of the cans of one diameter to one fillingstation and the cans of the other diameter to the other filling stationfor filling said cans, c. can-conducting means for respectivelysupporting and conduction the cans of smaller diameter and the cans oflarger diameter along seParate paths from said sources to said combiningmeans, and for supporting and conducting each of the combined pairs ofcans along single paths to said storage station and from said storagestation to said can-separating means, and for supporting and conductingthe cans of different diameters along separate paths from saidcan-separating means to said separate filling stations for filling. 5.In the can handling system as defined in claim 4; d. said can combiningmeans and said can-separating means each including portions of saidconducting means for supporting said cans for continuous movementthrough and past said can combining and said can-separating means, ande. said can conducting means including means between said can combiningmeans and said storage station for positioning said combined pairs ofcans upright with the open ends of said larger diameter cans directedupwardly and for supporting said combined pairs of cans in saidlast-mentioned position for movement to and for support at said storagestation in said last-mentioned position, f. said can conducting meansfurther including means between said can separating means and saidfillers for positioning and supporting said cans upright along saidseparate paths to said fillers with their open ends directed upwardlyfor filling by said fillers.
 6. In a can-handling system as defined inclaim 4; d. said can combining means an said can separating means eachcomprising substantially straight, horizontally elongated tracks forsupporting said cans for movement therethrough at a high rate of speed,and e. said can combining means including a rotary power driven alignerfor axially aligning a pair of cans of different diameters conductedthereto and for moving each pair of cans so aligned past said aligner atapproximately the same rate of speed as the rate of delivery to saidaligner.
 7. In a can-handling system for handling empty cylindrical cansof two different diameters open at one of their ends and closed at theiropposite ends, a can combiner comprising: a. a pair of horizontallyelongated, relatively straight, guide tracks in side-by-side relationsimilarly inclined relative to horizontal for supporting the cans of onediameter on one of said tracks and the cans of the other diameter on theother of said tracks for rolling of said cans on their sides under theinfluence of gravity and in adjoining relation on each of said tracksfrom the elevated ends thereof toward their lower ends with the openends of the cans in said pair of tracks facing each other. b. rotary canaligning means intermediate the ends of said tracks for engagingsuccessive can on said tracks and for axially aligning the cans soengaged during movement of said cans therepast, c. the tracks of saidpair thereof including can-engaging and moving means for engaging thecans on said tracks upon alignment by said aligning means and foraxially moving at least one can of the pair aligned by said aligningmeans into the other to form a fully combined pair of cans duringmovement of the cans to the lower ends of said tracks.
 8. In a cancombiner as defined in claim 7; d. said can engaging and moving meansbeing stationary relative to said cans and engageable with the cans attheir closed ends upon movement of said cans on said tracks to saidlower ends of the latter.
 9. In a can combiner as defined in claim 8; e.said tracks each including horizontally elongated can-supporting rodssupporting said cans at points spaced between and from their oppositeends for said rolling on said tracks, and f. said can-engaging meanscomprising a pair of horizontally elongated rods extendinglongitudinally of said tracks and convergently relative to each otherfrom said aligner to the lower ends of said tracks and supported at alevel for so engaging the cans of their closed ends.
 10. In a cancombiner as defined in claim 6; d. said rotary can aligning meansincluding a horizontal shaft spaceD above and extending transverselyacross said pair of tracks and a frame for said tracks including meanssupporting said shaft for rotation, and elements rigid on said shafthaving an annular row of spaced, generally radially outwardly openingrecesses for respectively receiving therein the upper portions of thecans of said tracks for movement of said cans below and past saidelements upon rotation of said shaft in one direction, said recessesbeing in alignment relative across said tracks, and means connected withsaid shaft for rotating it in said one direction, e. means forsupporting the pairs of tracks at said aligning means in positions forsupporting the cans of different diameters with their axes atsubstantially the same level.
 11. In a can combiner as defined in claim10: f. said elements comprising two pairs of wheels, with the wheels ofone pair corresponding to each other in their outer peripheral contour,and positioned over the track for said smaller diameter cans, and thewheels of the other pair corresponding to each other and positioned overthe track for said larger diameter cans, g. the outwardly openingrecesses around the wheels of said one pair having arcuately extendingedges complementary to the outer cross-sectional outline of said smallerdiameter cans, and the recesses around the wheels of the other pairhaving arcuately extending edges complementary to the cross-sectionaloutline of said larger diameter cans.
 12. In a can-handling system forhandling empty cylindrical cans of two different diameters open at oneof their ends and closed at their opposite ends and telescopicallycombined to form combined pairs each pair having a smaller diameter caninside a larger can with the closed end of one extending across the openend of the other, a can separator comprising: a. plurality ofhorizontally elongated, spaced supports having spaced can-engagingsurfaces defining an open-ended separation passageway for receiving saidcombined pairs of cans at one end thereof and for discharging theseparated cans at the opposite end, said supports and surfaces divergingtoward said opposite end and being spaced at said opposite end adistance greater than the axial length of said combined cans, and b.magnetic means located adjacent at least one of said surfaces so as toattract one of said cans into engagement therewith, the other can beingengageable with the other of said surfaces and c. means for feeding saidcans through said passageway in a direction toward said discharge endwhile engaged by their respective surfaces.
 13. In a can-handling systemfor handling empty cylindrical cans of two different diameters open atone of their ends and closed at their opposite ends and telescopicallycombined to form combined pairs of cans, each pair having a smallerdiameter can inside a larger diameter can with the closed end of oneextending across the open end of the other, a can separator comprising:a. an upper pair of horizontally spaced, opposed, horizontally elongatedcan engaging supports in side-by-side relation and a lower horizontallyextending can engaging support below the space between said upper pair,b. said upper pair of supports being horizontally spaced adjacent runsof a pair of upper endless, nonmagnetic conveyor belts supported attheir ends of movement about vertical axes, and said lower support beingthe upper run of a lower horizontally extending endless nonmagneticconveyor belt supported at its ends for movement about horizontal axes,and said upper run extending divergently downwardly form one of the endsof said adjacent runs, to provide the lateral and lower sides of anopen-ended separation passageway having an inlet for said cans at saidone of the ends of said runs and an outlet for said cans at theiropposite ends, c. means for feeding combined pairs of verticallydisposed cans into said inlet with the open ends of the larger diametercans facing downwardly, and means connected with said conveyor belts formoving them at the same rate of speed in a direction form said inlet tosaid outlet, d. means for supporting said adjacent runs of said upperbelts for frictionally engaging opposite sides of the large diametercans of said combined pairs, and means for supporting said upper run ofsaid lower conveyor in a position extending divergently downwardly fromsaid inlet toward said outlet from a position at said inlet forsupporting the smaller diameter can of each combined pair therein whenthe larger diameter can is engaged between said adjacent runs, to aposition at said outlet spaced a distance greater than the height saidcombined pair, e. magnetic means below said upper runs of said lowerbelt for attracting and holding said cans of smaller diameter stationaryon said upper run during movement thereof, whereby the cans of saidpairs will be fully separated from each other at said outlet end of saidpassageway.
 14. In a can separator as defined in claim 13; f. yieldablemeans in engagement with at least one of the adjacent runs of the beltsof said adjacent pair for yieldably urging it toward the other runthereof to maintain frictional engagement between said adjacent runs andthe larger diameter cans.
 15. In a can separator as defined in claim 14;g. said yieldable means comprising a row of springs stationarily held atone of their ends and in yieldable wiping engagement with the side ofsaid one of said upper runs that is opposite to its can engaging side,and means for so holding said springs.
 16. In a can separator as definedin claim 13; f. yieldable means in engagement with the sides of saidadjacent runs that are opposite to their can-engaging sides foryieldably urging said adjacent runs into engagement with said largerdiameter cans from said inlet to said outlet.
 17. In a can separator asdefined in claim 16: g. said yieldable means comprising a horizontallyextending row of spaced spring members with the spring members one rowin staggered relation to the spring members of the other row.
 18. In acan separator as defined in claim 13; f. said adjacent runs of saidbelts being of corresponding vertical width for extending approximatelyfrom the upper to the lower ends of the larger diameter cans, g.separate vertically spaced yieldable means along and in yieldableengagement with at least one of said adjacent runs of said upper beltsat the side thereof opposite to its can engaging side for yieldablyurging said run toward the other run and against the sides of largerdiameter cans between said adjacent runs for substantially the fullvertical width of said one of said runs.
 19. In a can separator asdefined in claim 13; f. said adjacent runs of said belts being ofcorresponding vertical width for extending approximately from the upperto the lower ends of the larger diameter cans, g. separate pairs ofvertically spaced yieldable means in horizontally spaced relation inrows extending along and in yieldable engagement with the oppositely,outwardly facing surfaces of said pair of adjacent runs for yieldablyurging said adjacent runs against opposite sides of the larger diametercans between said adjacent runs for substantially the full verticalwidth of said runs irrespective of distortions in the cylindrical sidesof said larger diameter cans, whereby said larger diameter cans will beheld against pivotal movement relative to said adjacent runs whenbetween the latter.
 20. In a can separator as defined in claim 19; h.the pairs of yieldable means in the row thereof against one of saidadjacent runs being in staggered relation to the pairs of yieldablemeans in the row that is against the other of said adjacent runs, i.means holding said yieldable means stationary against movementlongitudinally of said runs while permitting flexing thereof under theinfluence of said larger diameter cans upon actuation of said conveyorsfor moving said cans to said discharge end wHereby said larger diametercans will be slightly moved laterally relative to the direction ofmovement of said larger diameter cans during said movement from saidinlet to said outlet under the influence of the spring means inengagement with said adjacent runs to facilitate separation of saidsmaller diameter cans from said larger diameter cans.
 21. In a canseparator as defined in claim 13; f. means for conducting combined cansto said separator in single file in adjoining relation, and g. means atsaid inlet end of said passageway for feeding said combined cans to saidinlet in slightly spaced relation.
 22. In a can separator as defined inclaim 17; h. said adjacent runs of said upper belts being spaced apartless than the diameter of said larger diameter cans when the spacebetween said belts is free from cans, and i. belt tighteners inengagement with said upper pair of belts for maintaining said belts tautduring movement of cans between said upper runs, when said belts areactuated for effecting said movement.
 23. In a can separator as definedin claim 13 in which the cans of said combined pairs thereof to beseparated by said can separator each have a radially outwardlyprojecting bead at their closed ends and outwardly flared marginalportions at their open ends; f. the vertical widths of said adjacentruns being slightly less than the height of said combined pairs of cansthat are fed to the inlet ends of said adjacent runs, and g. feed meansfor feeding said combined pairs of cans to between said adjacent runs inpositions in which said beads on said larger diameter cans extend overand substantially adjoining the upper edges of said adjacent runs, andin which the lower edges of said adjacent runs are adjacent to saidflared marginal portions of said larger diameter cans, whereby saidlarger diameter will be held by said beads against downward movementthereof upon downward movement of said smaller diameter cans out of saidlarger diameter cans, and h. a horizontally disposed, flat plate at theinlet ends of said adjacent runs for supporting the cans of eachcombined pair horizontal during movement of said combined pairs of cansinto the inlet end of said passageway.
 24. In a can separator as definedin claim 13; f. means at the outlet end of said passageway actuatable byone of the cans of an incompletely separated pair thereof for the meansfor actuating said belts, g. said means for actuating said belts formoving said cans from said inlet to said outlet being continuous in theabsence of an incompletely separated pair of cans at said outlet.